C
N T EN T S LEGAL AWARDS 2016
6
Abdul Rahman Law Corporation
Law Firm of the Year - Singapore
8
Abouhamad, Merheb, Chamoun, Chedid
Lawyer and Firm of the Year - Lebanon
9
Carey Olsen
Law Firm of the Year – Channel Islands
10
Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee
M&A Law Firm of the Year – Asia Pacific
12
King & Wood Mallesons
Lawyer of the Year
14
M. & M. Bomchil
Law Firm of the Year - Argentina
16
Marjorie Rawls Roberts, P.C.
Tax Law Firm of the Year
18
Mathys & Squire
IP Service Provider of the Year
19
Minter Ellison Rudd Watts
IP Law Firm of the Year – New Zealand
20
Nyman Gibson Miralis Criminal Defence Lawyers
Criminal Defence Lawyers of the year
22
Seyfarth Shaw LLP
International Employment Law Adviser of the Year
23
Stites & Harbison, PLLC
Class Action Adviser of the Year - USA
24
Travers Thorp Alberga
Law Firm of the Year – Cayman Islands
26
WP Thompson
Dynamic Intellectual Property Firm of the Year - UK
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Abdul Rahman B.M.H Managing Director Abdul Rahman Law Corporation 6240 6901 www.arlc.com.sg rahman@arlc.com.sg 212 Telok Kurau Road #03-214 Bright Centre Singapore 423835 ARLC is a boutique Singapore law firm providing Islamic financial legal services from document drafting, deal structuring, legal audit and general advisory. Working closely with partner law firms in the South-east Asian region and internationally, our regionally-integrated Islamic finance practice provides clients with responsive, innovative advice and solutions across the full spectrum of Islamic finance products and services. A key strength of our Islamic finance practice is the ability to create collaborative teams which combine technical expertise in both conventional finance transactions with an in-depth yet practical understanding of the principles of Islamic finance. We have developed close relationships with Shariah scholars from within the region most commonly advising on Islamic finance transactions. Abdul Rahman Law Corporation (ARLC) was incorporated with limited liability in April 2014. At ARLC, we know that the law governs everything that we do, from personal matters to business management. Without a sound understanding of the law, it would be difficult to understand the legal issues that arise. As a result, you may be stuck without any idea on how to protect your interests.
From the start, ARLC’s highlymotivated team unanimously agreed on our mission – For the People. We believe that no one deserves to be left behind just because they do not have legal expertise. Your needs are the most important to us. During the past year, I am proud to see how the team has conducted themselves professionally while maintaining full empathy to the needs of the average person. This has led us to our current mantra, of being The Boutique Law Firm for the Common Man. During consultations, we will never cut you off while you are speaking. We pay the greatest attention to detail, all while never losing sight of the bigger picture. We truly want to listen to you and understand what your legal problems are. Only then can we offer you the best advice, which is both pragmatic and cost-effective. We’re small but we are good at what we do. Our efforts have paid off tremendously, with a high customer satisfaction rate. It has always been my dream for ARLC to be so trustworthy and excellent that we get to serve families for generations. This vision is slowly coming to fruition as we see more multigeneration work, whether in Estate Planning or company succession. It’s heartening to see that clients have so much faith in our legal expertise that they readily refer their friends and family to us. Being privileged
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LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR - SINGAPORE
to have the benefit of legal knowledge, it is no use if we do not extend help with the expertise we have been blessed with. These cases demonstrate how ARLC goes the extra mile to search for a solution within the legal process and framework to address our clients’ needs. We are privileged to have the law to protect us from injustice, but what is the law if we do not avail ourselves to it. That is where ARLC can step in to offer you our assistance. Our people are our greatest asset. We believe in working hard and playing hard. Throughout the year, ARLC organized fun, exciting activities for our dedicated team. In a relaxed environment, we let our guards down and were our true selves. In this frame of mind, we connected better and had proper, honest conversations with each other. With deeper bonds forged, we returned to the office happy, and unified in our stance to serve ARLC clients in the best way possible.
Giving Back to the Community
We will let you in on a little secret. We love children. In the course of 2014, ARLC has sponsored iftar for the orphans from Darul Ma’wa, Darul Ihsan and Lil Banat and spent time with them. These children are so brilliant in their own special ways and we know that they have infinite potential. It touches our heart that they continue to have bright smiles on their faces although they have gone through more than we can imagine. We hope to continue supporting their development in the coming years. Singapore has grown to become one of the wealthiest countries in the world. However, poverty remains an issue. In 2008, between 130,000 and 150,000 households were living below a monthly household income of S$1,500. At ARLC, we want to do whatever we can to improve the lives of the underprivileged and marginalized by providing them with their basic needs. In July 2014, our team collaborated with a local Voluntary Welfare Organisation to prepare, pack and distribute food every weekend in Ramadhan. Volunteering really opened our eyes and made us grateful for all the things we have in our life.
At ARLC, we give back to the communities in which we prosper in two ways – supporting local orphanages and distributing food to less well-to-do families.
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LAWYER AND FIRM OF THE YEAR - LEBANON Isabelle El Kallab Associate Lawyer “Abouhamad, Merheb, Chamoun, Chedid” Law Firm + 961 1 3 123398 www.amncc-lawfirm.com i.elkallab@hotmail.com / i.elkallab@amncc-lawfirm.com Ashrafieh, 22 Chebaro Strt, Warde Bldg, P.O.Box 165126, Beirut, Lebanon
Education
The Firm
Received in 2006 the bachelor degree in Law with distinction from La Sagesse University – Beirut, Lebanon and ranked the first of the class. Then obtained in 2008 an LLM Degree with distinction in International Law and International Finance from Institute for Law and Finance, Johann Wolfgang GoetheUniversity, Frankfurt- Germany.
Abouhamad, Merheb, Chamoun, Chedid Law firm which was found in 1963, has for many years been one of the leading Law firms in Lebanon, serving most of the largest banks and companies operating therein as well worldwide reputed banks, companies and institutions who had to deal with issues relating to Lebanese Law. It has participated in major business transactions and achieved most of the banks mergers which have occurred in the last twenty years. Abouhamad, Merheb, Chamoun, Chedid Law firm has been and still being involved in the preparation of many Bills.
Other Practice Areas Banking and Finance, Capital Market, Commercial Law, Corporate Mergers and Acquisitions, Corporate Restructuring and Insolvency, Employment Law, Inheritance, Insurance, Intellectual Property, Litigation and Arbitration, Real Estate, Tax Law
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LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR – CHANNEL ISLANDS Carey Olsen “Carey Olsen“ Guernsey: +44 (0) 1481 727272; Jersey: +44 (0) 1534 888900 www.careyolsen.com info@careyolsen.com PO Box 98, Carey House, Les Banques, St Peter Port, Guernsey GY1 4BZ 47 Esplanade, St Helier, Jersey JE1 0BD
The Firm
Our Practice
Carey Olsen is a market leading offshore law firm. We deliver exceptional services to our clients from the key offshore financial centres of the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Guernsey and Jersey. We also have an established presence in Cape Town and the City of London.
Our legal practice groups offer our clients and referrers access to a comprehensive range of services for transactional, dispute resolution and private client work.
We’re consistently the firm of choice for our clients and for advisers who refer work to our jurisdictions. Our firm offers a partner-led service. We employ 300 people and our 42 partners head up a total complement of 185 fee earners. We provide legal services in relation to all areas of corporate and finance law, trusts and fiduciary law, investment funds and dispute resolution as well as to private clients. We work with an extensive range of clients, including directors, global financial institutions, investment funds, private equity houses, corporations, trustees, governments and private individuals including entrepreneurs. We also routinely work with leading onshore legal advisers on international transactions and cases involving our jurisdictions.
Our primary transactional legal services include: •
Banking & Finance
•
Intellectual Property
•
Corporate & Commercial
• Investment Funds & Private Equity • Employment, Pensions & Incentives
Our dispute resolution and litigation group represents clients on the full spectrum of contentious, semi-contentious and advisory work in both a domestic and international context. Together with commercial litigation services our practice offers focussed advice on: •
Banking & Finance
•
Insolvency & Restructuring
•
Corporate Disputes
• Regulatory & Financial Crime •
Contentious Trusts
•
Mergers & Acquisitions
Our private clients rely upon us for services including those which involve:
•
Commercial Property
•
Estate Planning
•
Wills & Inheritance
•
Residential Property
• Regulatory & Financial Crime •
Insolvency & Restructuring
•
Trust & Fiduciary
• Insurance •
Stock Exchange Listings
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M&A LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR – ASIA PACIFIC James Harris Managing Partner, Singapore office Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee +65 6538 0900 www.hllnl.com james.harris@hllnl.com
The Firm Hogan Lovells is a global legal practice that helps corporations, financial institutions, and governmental entities across the spectrum of their critical business and legal issues globally and locally. We have over 2,500 lawyers operating out of more than 40 offices in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, the United States, Latin America and Africa.
Established in 1998, our Singapore office is the gateway for our firm’s activities in South and South East Asian countries. Our joint law venture enables us to provide a one-stop shop international and Singapore legal services on a wide range of matters across major practice streams. Our areas of focus include: •
Banking and finance
Hogan Lovells has one of the strongest networks in Asia, with offices in Singapore, Beijing, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Tokyo, Ulaanbaatar and an association in Indonesia.
•
Capital markets
In Singapore, we operate as Hogan Lovells Lee & Lee in a joint law venture with well-known Singapore law firm, Lee & Lee.
• Infrastructure and project finance
• Construction •
Corporate and commercial
•
Government advisory
•
International arbitration
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In particular, we are among the few law firms to offer a truly global infrastructure, energy resources and projects practice. One of the largest and most diverse in the world with highly experienced lawyers operating in all key markets, our award-winning practice regularly represents public and private sector clients on some of the world’s largest and most challenging projects. Our lawyers draw on more than 30 years of industry-focused experience, operating at the forefront of market trends and advising on projects in numerous industry sectors.
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Jose Lupi Foreign Legal Consultant King & Wood Mallesons +85362418688 www.kwm.com; jose.lupi@cn.kwm.com 20th Floor, East Tower, World Financial Center, 1 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District, Beijing 100020, P. R. China
Practice Areas Mergers and acquisitions, energy, resources and infrastructure, banking and finance and real estate
Biography Jose is a Portuguese M&A foreign legal consultant in KWM focusing on banking, energy, resources and infrastructure cross border investments. He is fully qualified to practice in Macau, Portugal and Brazil. Before joining KWM, he was an attorney at law for FC Law | Lawyers and Privates Notaries in Macau and Gabriel Quintanilha Advogados in Brazil. He represented on a regular basis the one of the largest private investors in Angola and Congo Brazzaville, and served as legal consultant for International Corporation Services Group (ICSL Iberia), a multinational corporate consultancy and service provider in Lisbon, Portugal. Previously, Jose was also head of business development of MdME Lawyers in Macau with a key role
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in establishing the international network of the firm and having a key role in its association with the MLGTS Legal Circle, a legal alliance focused in Brazil, Portugal, Angola and Mozambique. He has also acted on a regular basis for Mandeville & Associates, a Hong Kong immigration law firm; Open Atelier SA, a consultancy firm in Madrid, Spain; and Chongqing Vision Spring Sci-Tech Innovation Institute, a Venture Capital firm in Chongqing, China. He holds a Master in International Business from Chongqing University under a full scholarship from the PRC Central Government, a Juris Doctor from the University of Lisbon, Portugal, and an Erasmus program from the University of Genova, Italy. Jose is a Macau resident and speaks Portuguese, English, Spanish, Italian and Mandarin Chinese.
Education Jose holds a Juris Doctor in Law from the University of Lisbon and a Master in International Business from the University of Chongqing.
LAWYER OF THE YEAR
He took a one year program in Law from the University of Genova and is currently undergoing a PhD program in International Law from the China University of Political Science and Law.
Firm As the first global law firm to be headquartered in Asia, King & Wood Mallesons is connecting Asia to the world, and the world to Asia. With unparalleled depth of both inbound and outbound capability and strategically positioned in the world’s growth markets and financial capitals, KWM is uniquely placed to support regional clients as they internationalise and international clients as they look to invest or expand into Asia. We help our global and domestic clients save cost and manage risk, we can provide: •
Local expertise – We have 11 offices in Greater China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Qingdao, Jinan, Hang Zhou, Suzhou, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Sanya and Hong Kong.
• Global legal network – around 31 offices across China, Hong Kong, Australia, UK, Europe, USA, Japan, Singapore, South Africa and Middle East. • Law Capabilities – one of law firms that is able to provide Chinese, Hong Kong, Australian, UK, German, French, Italian and the EU Antitrust law capabilities. • Industry Leading Reputation – KWM has experienced legal practitioners who are leaders in their respective fields. We have a reputation as an industry leader, earning accolades from clients and competitors alike including Most Innovative law Firm in the Asia-Pacific 2015 by the Financial Times. • Huge pool of talent – delivering local understanding, bi-lingual capability and on--the- ground support where you need it most with more than 560 partners and more than 2700 lawyers across the globe.
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Guido Santiago Tawil, Rafael Manóvil Francisco Gutierrez, María Inés Corrá M. & M. Bomchil (+54 11) 4321-7500 www.bomchil.com info@bomchil.com Suipacha 268 12 floor - C1008AAF Buenos Aires – Argentina
M. & M. Bomchil, founded in 1923, is one of the most prestigious law firms in Argentina. The firm provides comprehensive legal advice to local and international clients in different areas of the law. Our lawyers are highly specialized in commercial, administrative, competition, regulatory, tax, labor, and environmental law, among other areas. Our organization is especially designed for timely meeting our clients’ needs. Our firm is totally devoted to meeting our clients’ demands. Our clients include multinational companies and regional big and medium-sized companies from different sectors of the economy, as well as governments, foreign embassies and nonprofit organizations. We are committed to the full satisfaction of our clients´ legal needs in our practice areas, through a service of excellence oriented to provide precise and constructive solutions to their problems and align behind their interests, while conducting ourselves with honesty and integrity within a cordial and loyal professional relationship. The firm increased its international arbitration practice after the incorporation of Guido Santiago Tawil as a partner in 1993. Since then, the firm has developed substantial experience in arbitration proceedings under the ICC, UNCITRAL, ICDR and ICSID rules, among others. Today, with more than 20 practitioners in the field, M. & M. Bomchil is a regional leader. M. & M. Bomchil’s partners regularly participate as lawyers, arbitrators or experts in key conflicts related to commercial, regulatory matters and foreign investment disputes. The firm has represented companies as Endesa, CMS, Azurix, Telefónica, Siemens, Camuzzi, Enron, Disco (former subsidiary of Ahold), Wintershall Energía (Basf Group), among others, in some of the major investment and commercial disputes in the region, holding one of the most diverse portfolios of claims in Latin America in the past few years. The arbitration group of the firm has been consistently ranked as one Argentine leading team (tier No. 1) in international and local surveys. The firm has been actively involved in well-known investment disputes submitted to ICSID arbitration, the majority of which were won by our clients or ended by settlement. These disputes
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amounted to an aggregate sum of more than US$ 5.000 MM. These cases were handled by Guido Tawil, Francisco Gutiérrez, Maria Inés Corrá and Héctor Huici. The firm has successfully represented a Chilean distributor (respondent) in an international arbitration under the ICDR arbitration rules in a dispute of more than US$ 40 MM. The case was handled by Guido Tawil and Maria Inés Corrá. The firm has also handled several disputes dealing with energy matters, corporate conflicts and the pesification of foreign currency denominated debts, among others. Such disputes have been submitted either to domestic courts, or to domestic or international arbitral tribunals. These cases have been handled by Guido Tawil, María Inés Corrá, Héctor Huici and Federico Campolieti. The firm has represented an Argentine renewable energy company, in a contractual conflict with regard to the fulfillment of a supply and installation agreement and a service and maintenance agreement for more than 40 wind turbine generators. The dispute amounted to more than U$S 40 million and dealt with issues such as additional costs and the impact of exchange controls imposed by Argentine Government on payments due under the contracts, among others. The case was settled in December 2012. The case was handled by Guido Santiago Tawil, María Inés Corrá and, Francisco Gutiérrez. The firm also represented an Argentine real estate company in a contractual conflict with regard to the fulfillment of a hotel operating agreement against the French leading hotel operator. The firm also represents one of Argentina’s main financial institutions in cross-lawsuits filed with minority shareholders, which –once decided– could turn out to be leading cases on novel legal questions. This matter has been handled by Rafael Manóvil. The firm is currently acting as lead counsel in an ICC arbitration between a Chilean gas distributor and three Argentine gas producers related to the performance of a gas supply contract. The dispute deals with the impact of the Argentine Government measures on the execution of long term contracts for gas exports to Chile and involves a claim over US$ 500 MM. The case may lead to claims from our client against other parties. Guido Santiago Tawil and María Inés Corrá are handling this case.
Marjorie Rawls Roberts, Esq. President Marjorie Rawls Roberts, P.C. +1 340 776 7235 http://www.marjorierobertspc.com; jorie@marjorierobertspc.com Marjorie Rawls Roberts, P.C. 5093 Dronningens Gade, Ste. 1 One Hibiscus Alley, St. Thomas, VI 00802
Bio
The Firm
Previously, Ms. Roberts was in private practice in London and Washington, D.C. with the law firm of Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (1981-1985), served as an attorneyadvisor in the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Tax Policy in Washington, D.C. (1985-1988), was Chief Counsel to the U.S. Virgin Islands Bureau of Internal Revenue (1988-1995), and was General Counsel, Vice President, and Director for Globalvest Management Company, LP, a St. Thomas-based investment company managing investments in Central and South America and Russia through offshore funds (1995-1999). Ms. Roberts has written a number of articles on international taxation and offshore and mutual funds and has spoken at conferences on taxation in Central America and the Caribbean, Virgin Islands investment laws, captive insurance companies, international estate planning, offshore and mutual funds, residency, and other tax matters. Ms. Roberts is admitted to practice law in California, Washington, D.C. (inactive), the U.S. Virgin Islands, before the Third Circuit Court of Appeals and the U.S. Tax Court, and is licensed as a solicitor in England and Wales and in the British Virgin Islands. Her law firm is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell. Ms. Roberts was the featured member of the American Bar Association Section of Taxation in the December, 2010, eNEWS, which highlighted Ms. Roberts for her commitment to the Section of Taxation and its work. She also authored a chapter titled “A Harbor View” in the 2009 American Bar Association publication Careers in Tax Law. Ms. Roberts currently serves on the Board of the Reichhold Center for the Arts at the University of the Virgin Islands, the Board of Fonkoze USA (microfinance in Haiti), and the Board of the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands. Ms. Roberts is also a member of the Travelers Century Club, having visited 161 countries on the Club’s list.
Marjorie Rawls Roberts, P.C., is composed of six attorneys specializing in tax, corporate/securities, estate planning, and business law in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The firm specializes in tax planning and representation of businesses seeking to participate in one of the territory’s economic development programs, with a focus on fund managers, family offices, management consultants, and internet marketing companies. The firm’s clients include financial services companies, hotels, marinas, fund managers, jewelry designers, and venture capital investment companies, among others.
U.S. Virgin Islands Economic Incentive Programs The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI) is an unincorporated U.S. territory acquired from Denmark in 1917. As a U.S. territory, the USVI occupies a unique status; although part of the U.S., it has been granted the authority by the U.S. Congress to enact special tax laws to encourage investment in business operations and to develop a financial services industry. The USVI has enacted targeted tax incentives to certain types of businesses that enhance the economic well-being of the territory and its people. These benefits, administered by the Economic Development Commission (EDC), are available for financial services companies, including investment managers and advisors, business and management consultants, family offices, investment banking and financial services, call centers, venture capital management and investment, and other businesses serving clients outside the USVI. Benefits also are available for hotels/ guesthouses, recreation and retirement facilities, manufacturers, health care, medical laboratories (and specialty medical services), utilities (including alternative energy), transportation, businesses in the marine and aircraft industries, agriculture, and food processing.
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Businesses can also qualify for tax benefits under the University of the Virgin Islands Research and Technology Park (RTPark), which is an autonomous instrumentality of the USVI government and was created to foster the development and expansion of a technology sector in the USVI. RTPark applicants must qualify as an Electronic Commerce Business or a KnowledgeBased Business. Businesses that use highly skilled or highly educated personnel and a high level of research and development to create intellectual assets and property, and to be innovative in their products, services or processes as a significant source of value and competitive advantage can qualify under the RTPark Program. Such businesses include research businesses, information technology businesses, e-commerce businesses, electronic hosting facilities, agricultural research, and electronics businesses.
Tax Benefits Benefits under the EDC and RTPark Programs include a credit equal to 90% of the otherwise applicable income tax, which applies both to the income from the benefited business and to the bona fide USVI resident owners on their allocations or dividends. Hence a USVI corporation pays an effective tax rate of approximately 4% on its eligible income. (Salaries and other forms of compensation such as guaranteed payments are fully taxable.) Beneficiaries are also exempt from the territory’s 5% tax on gross receipts, and from USVI property tax for the property occupied by the beneficiary for its approved business activities. No withholding tax is imposed on payments to U.S. corporations. Beneficiary companies with foreign owners are exempt from withholding tax on interest payments and are subject to a reduced withholding tax rate of 4.4% on dividend payments overseas. Similarly, no income tax is payable on interest paid to nonresident alien individuals, and the tax rate on dividends paid to nonresident
TAX LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR
individuals is 4%. Businesses in the RTPark also receive reduced withholding tax rates on royalty payments to foreign (non-U.S.) corporations and individuals. Finally, a beneficiary’s customs duties are reduced from 6% to 1% on raw materials and component parts imported from outside the U.S. No local customs duties are imposed on U.S. made products.
EDC Requirements To qualify under the EDC Program, an applicant must make a minimum capital investment of USD 100,000 (exclusive of inventory), and must meet certain minimum employment requirements. Typically, a business must employ ten fulltime employees, and a full-time employee is someone who works at least 32 hours a week. However, only five employees (exclusive of the owners) are required for designated service businesses engaged in “non-labor intensive financial services.” At least 80% of the beneficiary’s employees must be USVI residents unless a waiver is granted. Beneficiaries must purchase goods and services locally when available, make certain contributions to scholarships and public education, and provide a plan for civic participation. Beneficiaries must also provide employee benefits and enact a management training program. The application process requires submission of a detailed application including details of the beneficiary’s ownership, financial information and a background check for beneficial owners with more than a five percent interest. Submission of the application is followed by the application’s presentation at a public hearing before the EDC commissioners. EDC applications are then reviewed by the EDC commissioners and, upon receipt of a favorable recommendation, are forwarded to the USVI Governor for final review. With the Governor’s approval, benefits are available for initial periods of 20 years for investments on the islands of St. Thomas and St. John, and for 30 years on St. Croix. In addition,
beneficiaries that invest more than USD 10 million are eligible to receive an additional ten years of benefits, and beneficiaries that invest between USD 1 million and USD 10 million are eligible for an additional fiveyear term of benefits. Benefits packages may be extended upon proper application and review. However, benefits packages may not be extended for more than ten years at 100% of benefits.
RTPark Requirements Each RTPark applicant must provide the RTPark with an ownership interest in the business, must submit a proposal setting out the applicant’s proposed interactions with the University of the Virgin Islands (such as scholarships) and will also be required to pay upfront and/or ongoing fees which are separately negotiated for each applicant. The Governor of the USVI has final approval of RTPark Program beneficiaries that previously have been in operation for over one year, but does not review or approve applicants that are new to the USVI. RTPark applications (including due diligence) are reviewed by the RTPark Board. Benefits are available for a 15-year period regardless of where the beneficiary operates within the USVI, and may be renewed for an initial period of ten years, followed by subsequent renewal periods of five years.
Legal Requirements for Tax Incentives The Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (Code), applies in the USVI under a “mirror” system whereby “USVI” is substituted for “United States” wherever the latter appears. Also, the Code contains several sections – notably sections 932, 934, and 937 – that deal specifically with the USVI and govern the extent to which the USVI can grant tax incentives and how USVI residents file their tax returns. The USVI can grant tax benefits on any USVI source income and on certain income
that is effectively connected with a USVI trade or business. Income is USVI source if it is fee income for services performed in the USVI. Capital gains derived by a USVI business may also be eligible if certain requirements are met (although gains from the sale of assets contributed by a U.S. resident who then moves to the USVI must typically be allocated). Certain dividend and interest income from a USVI payor is USVI source income. Income may be effectively connected with a USVI trade or business if it consists of non-U.S. source dividends or interest derived in the active conduct of a banking, financing, or similar business. The USVI cannot reduce or rebate tax on income from U.S. sources, except for sales of inventory manufactured in the USVI where title passes in the U.S. Of course, income must be earned in the conduct of the business activities approved by the EDC and the RTPark.
Bona Fide Residency in the USVI Owners of eligible businesses can receive EDC or RTPark benefits on their dividends or distributions if they are bona fide USVI residents. The test for determining bona fide residency in the USVI for income tax purposes requires a taxpayer to (i) be present in the USVI for at least 183 days or meet one of four additional tests established by Treasury Regulation; (ii) not have a tax home outside the USVI for the taxable year; and (iii) not have a closer connection to the United States or a foreign country than to the USVI. An individual must meet all three tests in order to be a bona fide resident of the USVI for income tax purposes. Each person who is a bona fide resident of the USVI during the entire taxable year as provided under the Code must file an income tax return – Federal Form 1040 – for the taxable year with the Virgin Islands Bureau of
Internal Revenue and pay tax on his or her worldwide income to the USVI.
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IP SERVICE PROVIDER OF THE YEAR Victoria Howe Marketing Executive Mathys & Squire 020 7830 0000 www.mathys-squire.com vhowe@mathys-squire.com The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9SG, United Kingdom
Mathys & Squire is one of Europe’s most established and renowned specialist IP firms. We have been around for over 100 years, and have seen a 25% increase in both our partnership and the general size of the firm. In 2014, we became the first legal tenant of the Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe, when we moved our UK headquarters to the 15th floor. We now work across five offices in London, Cambridge, Manchester, York and Reading. We are a full service IP firm with specialist attorneys in a wide range of technical fields including: biotechnology, pharmacology, electronics, engineering,
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software, chemistry, IT, and communications. We have an excellent track record in successfully prosecuting software-related and business process inventions before the EPO. We also have a highly successful European patent opposition practice. Our trademarks team have vast experience in the development, management and protection of trade mark portfolios; including, filing and prosecuting applications for national and international trade mark registration before the UK Intellectual Property Office and OHIM in the EU.
IP LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR – NEW ZEALAND Christopher Young Partner Minter Ellison Rudd Watts +64 9 353 9910 http://www.minterellison.co.nz christopher.young@minterellison.co.nz Lumley Centre, 88 Shortland Street, Auckland 1010, New Zealand Minter Ellison Rudd Watts (MERW) has a dedicated Intellectual Property (IP) practice and is internationally recognised: • We are unique in the New Zealand market as we are part of an Australasian practice. We work closely with the Minter Ellison Legal Group’s IP practice, which is a strong and experienced team. • We have a very wide range of clients and depth to our practice, industries and work types for both local and international companies (including privately owned, SMEs and large public and multinational companies). The examples of work in this submission and the referees from a range of different business types have been selected to demonstrate this. •
We advise on all aspects of IP work (except patent registration), and are best known for:
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Commercialisation of IP, including structuring, licensing, using IP as security, IP financing, and effective tax structures
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Branding strategy, trade mark registration and portfolio management locally and internationally
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IP aspects of a range of major corporate transactions, including IP due diligence, preparing practical commercial due diligence reports, and dealing with IP in commercial transactions, including negotiating IP aspects of sale and purchase contracts and licensing resulting from the transaction (mergers, acquisitions, asset transfers, licensing, joint ventures, development agreements, and capital raisings)
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IP dispute resolution and litigation including trade mark, copyright, Fair Trading Act, passing-off, confidential information
○ Marketing and advertising ○
Film, television and related advisory work, advising major studios and independent producers on production and post production including structuring, contracts, New Zealand and cross border IP advice.
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IP relating to major sporting events. IP forms a significant part of our sports law practice.
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CRIMINAL DEFENCE LAWYERS OF THE YEAR
Nyman Gibson Miralis Criminal Defence Lawyers Level 9, 299 Elizabeth Street Sydney NSW 2000 Australia Website: www.notguilty.com.au Mr Dennis Miralis: dm@notguilty.com.au Mr Phillip Gibson: pg@notguilty.com.au
General and Serious Crime Practice – Australia and International Nyman Gibson Miralis is an award winning firm of specialist criminal defence lawyers and advisors based in Sydney, Australia, with expertise in domestic and international crime. Led by Mr Phillip Gibson and Mr Dennis Miralis it has conducted some of the largest and most complex criminal defence cases in Australia and has expertise in the following areas of general and complex Australian criminal law: • Murder • Drug importation • Drug supply • Money laundering • Corporate Crime • Fraud • Sexual assaults • Assaults Nyman Gibson Miralis has an exceptional track record of appearing in leading defence cases at the cutting edge of criminal law and is the leading Australian criminal defence law firm with a specialist focus on global transnational criminal law including: • Anti-money laundering law • Extradition Law • Mutual Assistance Law • International forfeiture and proceeds of crime law • Anti-terrorism law • Cyber-crime and e-crime law Nyman Gibson Miralis has developed expertise in assisting individuals and entities which
are being investigated in several jurisdictions, including China, Singapore, South Korea, Hong Kong, Russia and the United Kingdom, by working collaboratively across jurisdictions and formulating international defence strategies, covering international investigations and prosecutions (including extradition) and the sharing of information between foreign states.
White Collar Crime Practice – Australia & International White collar crime encompass offences such as corporate crime, fraud, bribery (including foreign bribery), insider trading, embezzlement, taxation offences, money laundering and other dishonesty related offences which may be prosecuted by the Australian Tax Office (ATO), the Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) and the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) and the Commonwealth DPP (CDPP). White collar crime also captures proceedings for the forfeiture and seizure of property declared to be proceeds of crime. What are our main target markets? Our clients are Directors of Corporations of all sizes, employees and contractors, government office holders, foreign executives and individuals who are seeking the expertise of lawyers who can operate in Australia but also globally.
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Our clients seek us out for sound legal advice concerning negotiations with the regulators during the investigation phase but also for our experience in developing and providing legally sophisticated strategies for trial. Representing clients in white collar crime investigations and offences requires a comprehensive understanding of the complex legislation and the practice and procedure of regulatory and investigative bodies. The investigation of complex white collar offences often involves multiple law enforcement agencies working across several jurisdictions to investigate, gather evidence, and prosecute, sometimes in more than one jurisdiction, whilst parallel civil and criminal proceedings are often permitted. We offer specialist capabilities in these areas including providing legal advice about compliance with Australian Anti- Money Laundering legislation. What are the outstanding services we offer? Our major point of difference is our transnational legal work and the relationships we have built working collaboratively with international partners to achieve results aligned with our clients’ objectives.
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INTERNATIONAL EMPLOYMENT LAW ADVISER OF THE YEAR Darren Gardner Chair, International Department Seyfarth Shaw LLP +1 415 544 1018 www.seyfarth.com dgardner@seyfarth.com 560 Mission Street, Suite 3100, San Francisco, CA 94105-2930
The Firm Seyfarth Shaw LLP has more than 800 lawyers across 14 offices in the United States, Europe and the Asia Pacific, with global reach and unparalleled capabilities in international employment law. Our team of specialist international employment lawyers is the largest of its type globally, and our practice is acknowledged as one of the world’s leading practices in the area. All the partners in our international practice have deep experience acting for large multinational companies operating around the world across a wide range of industries. Our integrated team is located in key global locations and provides a true cross-border expertise. The leader of our practice, Darren Gardner, is recognized as one of the pioneers in the practice of international employment law, and he has assisted many of the world’s largest companies with numerous complex and high profile global employment-related strategic, compliance and transactional projects, often covering up to 150 countries at one time. Our success is the result of a constant, unrelenting focus on the needs of our clients and delivering the highest quality legal services. Our commitment to excellence and our belief in the strength of an integrated team-based approach to the delivery of our services provide an innovative and commercial approach to all matters for our clients.
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CLASS ACTION ADVISER OF THE YEAR - USA Chadwick A. McTighe Attorney (Member) Stites & Harbison, PLLC (502) 681-0392 http://www.stites.com/ cmctighe@stites.com 400 West Market Street, Suite 1800, Louisville, Kentucky 40202 Chadwick is an attorney and member of Stites & Harbison, PLLC. He practices in the firm’s business litigation service group where he represents a wide range of clients in many different types of matters. He practices extensively in class action litigation and complex litigation involving a number of industries and substantive areas of the law (including, for example, insurance and annuities, consumer fraud/consumer protection, data breaches, fiduciary duties, financial institutions, employment and wage and hour issues, real estate, telecommunications and utilities, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act). Chadwick is admitted to practice in Kentucky, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the United States District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Kentucky and for the Southern District of Indiana. He regularly advises and represents clients located throughout the United States and conducting business throughout the world.
In addition to representing his clients, Chadwick enjoys taking opportunities to provide educational and general advisory services to the legal and business communities. He has given presentations on various topics, particularly through Continuing Legal Education programs, and he has written articles that have appeared in local and international publications. Chadwick believes strongly in giving back to the community through public service and takes an active role in charitable and civic organizations. Chadwick received his juris doctorate from the University of Notre Dame in 2004 and his bachelor of arts from the University of Notre Dame in 2001. To ensure compliance with any applicable requirements that may arise from the information provided in this profile, THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT.
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LAW FIRM OF THE YEAR – CAYMAN ISLANDS Nicole Pineda Travers Thorp Alberga Cayman Islands: +13459490699; Hong Kong: +852 2801 6066 www.traversthorpalberga.com npineda@traversthorpalberga.com Harbour Place, 2nd Floor, 103 South Church Street P.O. Box 472, George Town, Grand Cayman KY1-1106, Cayman Islands
The Firm Travers Thorp Alberga is a boutique law firm comprised of former Maples and Calder and Walkers’ partners, which has been established with a view to providing highly focused and relevant expertise in a more personalized manner and at lower cost. Our business model has been designed to be different from other law firms in a way that is relevant to client needs in a changed offshore legal and economic environment. The Firm’s particular strengths and unique selling points include: •
Clients can rely on a constant direct involvement of a highly experienced partner with a proven track record. Our partners have on average 15 years of relevant experience and many were the heads of department at the largest Cayman law firms. Clients receive intuitive and incisive legal advice without internal layering and duplication.
•
Our streamlined operating structure allows us to provide superior legal advice at substantially lower rates and to offer flexible fee arrangements that are compelling.
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The Firm is ranked by Chambers and Partners, Legal 500, The Lawyer, IFLR1000 and IFLR Latin American Energy and Infrastructure Guide, which variously have noted that: • the Firm «performs impressively» and is «forward looking and sophisticated»; •
the «pedigree, client focus and technical and commercial abilities of the partners» have allowed the Firm to «grasp a firm foothold in … a very competitive market»;
• the Firm is the «one to watch” noting that the leanness of the Firm’s operation, which keep costs low, make a “compelling case for clients”; and •
Clients “appreciate the value for money and personal time they receive from partners”.
Practice Areas • Corporate •
Corporate Service
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Investment Management
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Insurance and Regulatory
• Finance •
Goverment Relations and Local Business
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Litigation and Insolvency
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Private Client
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DYNAMIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY FIRM OF THE YEAR - UK Dr Julian Potter Patent Attorney (Partner) WP Thompson +44 (0) 207 240 2220 www.wpt.co.uk jmp@wpt.co.uk 55 Drury Lane, London, WC2B 5SQ The firm is a specialist IP prosecution and litigation firm. Established in 1873 we are proud of our heritage but do not rely upon it. Our ethos is exclusively focused on meeting our clients’ needs and expectations now, and on providing our clients with professional advice and support services which are technically excellent, legally sophisticated and commercially astute. We are a European firm with our primary offices in London the financial and legal centre of Europe, Liverpool in the commercial and industrial heartland of the UK and Munich the seat of the European Patent Office.
Our strong direct client base in Europe and a wide range of experience and expertise allows us to offer the highest standard of advice and assistance in this connection. We work closely with our direct clients, getting to know the businesses and technologies in question and thus advising from a position of knowledge and experience. We also have a substantial client base overseas and a commensurate network of professional relationships in literally every IP functioning jurisdiction worldwide. The firm believes that its experience in meeting the day to day needs of its direct domestic clients provides the best possible
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background for understanding the issues faced by its overseas clients and advising on European prosecution and enforcement issues with a strong appreciation of their commercial priorities. Advice from the firm is therefore given from the standpoint of commercial as well as technological and legal awareness. Expertise within the firm covers an extensive range of technologies, from electronic engineering and mechanical sciences on the one hand, through to chemistry and biotechnology on the other, and includes litigation specialists. Trade mark specialists also form an integral part of the firm’s professional base.
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